Shock-absorbing device.



1. B. ODONNELL.

Patented Sept. 21, 1915.

WITNESSES: 8 INVENTOR A TTORNE Y COLUMBIA PLANOORAPH C0. WASHINGTON. n c

lever connections JOHN B. ODONNELL, OF KANSAS CITY, M ISS OUR-I,ASSIGNOR OF ONE-I-IALF TO JAMES S.

STRONG, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SHOCK-ABSORBING DEVICE.

Application filed February 25, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN B. ODONNELL, acitizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county ofJackson and State of Missouri, have invented a new and usefulShock-Absorbing Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to shock-absorbing devices, and more especiallyto those devices of this character which are used in connection withvehicles of various types, and the object in view is to devise a meansof co nparatively simple construction which will, when embodied inconnection with a vehicle, serve the purpose now served by the pneumaticor equivalent wheel tires commonly employed.

A very serious problem presents itself to the automobile trade as to howto find asatisfactory substitute for the present arrangement ofcushioning means which neccssitates a pneumatic wheel tread, or someother cushioning tread almost equally expensive because of its complexconstruction. The present invention aims to solve this problem by meansof a novel and peculiar form of cushioning construction providedintermediate the vehicle body and the axles, independent of the form ofwheel tire employed, and of a character which will cooperate with theusual vehicle springs at all times, regardless of the direction ofvibration of these springs. I

lVith this general object in view, the invention will now be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawing showing two forms ofconstruction embodying the proposed improvements.

In the drawingFigure 1 is a perspective view representing the preferredform of the invention; Fig. 2 is an elevation of the cushioning elementand one of the levers with its attached shoes shown in section; Fig. 3is a perspective view of one of the shoes and brackets provided for eachlever; Fig. 4: is a perspective detail of one of the with the vehicleframe; Figs. 5 and 6 are elevation and plan views, respectively, of amodified construction.

Having reference now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawing, illustrating thepreferred form of the device, these figures show the device ascomprising a pair of transverse supporting members 2, having theiropposite ends mounted upon and secured to the vehicle Specification ofLetters Patent.

PatentedSept. 21, 1915. Serial No. 821,072.

springs l. These members 2 are spaced slightly apart and form the framework for carrying the cushioning element and connections to the vehiclebody. This auxiliary cushioning element may be a resilient member of anydesired form and construction suitable for the purpose, it being found,however, that a wheel 6 journaled between the members 2 upon a pin 8 andprovided with a pneumatic tire 10 serves the purpose satisfactorily.lVhen placed in position, the pin 8 is secured by means of a set screw12. Lightly embracing the tire 10 at opposite sides of the wheel are twopairs of curved shoes H having dovetailed ribs 16 fitting in similarlyformed grooves provided in the bracket members 18, which latter areremovably clamped by means of bolts 20 to the inner ends of a pair oflevers 22. Each of the levers 22 is provided intermediate its ends witha series of openings 24: corresponding to a similar series of openings26 in each of the frame members 2, these sets of openings being for thepurpose of adjustably accommodating a pair of pivot pins 28 whereby thefulcrums of the levers may be changed in accordance with the leveragedesired to be exerted upon the cushioning element 10. The outer ends ofthe levers 22 are connected to the vehicle frame in any suitable manner,as by having the ends of the levers formed with notches 30 within whichto seat the adjacent portions of the chassis frame 32 provided withnotched portions so formed as to permit slight pivotal play of thelevers whenever there is relative movement taking place between theadjacent portions of the axle and vehicle body. The levers 22 are alsoprovided with the openings 27 adapted to register with similar openings29 in the members 2, for the purpose of accommodating additional pins 28should it ever be desired to lock either or both of said levers anddispense with the auxiliary cushioning action of the member 10. Theabove-decribed arrangement provides a strong and compact constructionfreely permitting all proper movements of the levers and at the sametime forming guide passages which will prevent all excessive'lateralvibration of the levers due to the lurching of the vehicle.

In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a construction operating on the same generalprinciple, but so arranged as to be mounted and connected up in aslightly different manner and with the cushioning .member carrieddirectly over the'axle-su 'nported portion of spring at. In thismodification, a bracket or stand 3% is clamped by bolts ber 38 whichembraces the mid-portion of the spring 4 and is carried by the axle 4:0.In this stand is journaled the wheel 6 carrying the cushioning element10 embraced by the shoes 14 of brackets 18 removably clamped to theinner ends of the levers 22 which, in this instance, are fulcrumed bymeans ofU-b'olts i2 and plates 4%, the U bolts being pivotally connectedwith clips i6 secured to the outer ends of the upper longer leaves ofthe spring 4. The adjustment of :the'fulcrum in this construction isobtained by means of a series of openings &8 in the 'ends of the springand bolts 50, whereby the clips i6 may be connected with different setsof such openings, it being understood that the -U-bolts i2 must bereclamped to accommodate such adjustment. The outer ends :of the levers22 are pivotally linked to the chassis frame by means of U- bolts 52engaging suitable connections on said frame, such as a U-bolt 5i at oneend of another transverse spring 4, and a hanger-extension 56 connectedto the frame 32, the manner of connecting with the frame varying, ofcourse, with the demands of the particular vehicle constructioninvolved.

By means of the above-described forms of construction it will beobserved that a shockabsorbing device is provided in which thecushioning member is located in such a relation to the spring or springsas to be subjected to a thrust for all vibrations of the spring, andthat these thrusts are transmitted-to the cushioning element through alever "the fulcrum of which is arranged to be adjusted so that thecushioning action of the device may be readily modified to suit "eitherlight or heavy loads. With the parts arranged as described thecushioning action thereof very closely simulates that to be derived fromthe usual automobile construction having a pneumatic Wheel-"tread. Byhaving the cushioning member of the form shown and rotatably mounted, itmay be conveniently shifted to distribute the wear over its entireperiphery, and by arranging the axes of the levers and cushioning memberparallel, the contacting shoes are presented in the most appropriateare'lation for properly and effectively embracing "the sides of thecushioning element. Moreover, by merely detaching one shoe from each ofthe levers,-for example, the upper shoes and brackets in Fig. '1, thecushioning anember may be conveniently removed from position for repairsor for reneava'l of the cushionin g element, as may be (desired.

It "will therefore be apparent that a very 36 to the clamping mem-.

and properly adjusted,

single auxiliary simple, compact and durable construction has beendevised for carrying out the objects of the invention, and reservationis made of the right to such modifications and departures in form as mayfall within the scope of the following claims.

Claims:

1. The combination with a vehicle having a yielding cushioning meansintermediate the vehicle body and the axle, of an auxiliary cushioningmember, and connections between said cushioning means and auxiliarymember whereby a leverage action is exerted upon the latter for allvibratory mov ments of the former.

2. The combination with a vehicle having a spring intermediate thevehicle body and the axle, of an auxiliary cushioning member, and alever connected with said spring and provided with contacting membersembracing opposite sides of said auxiliary member, said lever beingarranged to exert-pressure upon said auxiliary member through one or theother of said contacting members for every relative approaching orseparating movement of the body and axle.

3. The combination with a vehicle having a spring intermediate thevehicle body and the axle, of an auxiliary cushioning member, a leverconnected with said spring and provided with contacting membersembracing opposite sides of said auxiliary cushioning member, said leverbeing arranged to exert pressure upon said auxiliary member through oneor the other of said contacting members for every relative approachingor separating movement of the body and axle, and means permit-tingvariation of the leverage action of said lever.

l. The combination with a vehicle having springs intermediate thevehicle body and axle and at opposite-sides of said body, of a singleauxiliary cushioning member, contact members embracing opposite sides ofsaid auxiliary member, and means connected with said contact members andoperated by all relative approaching and separating movements of sandbody and axle for-causing said auxiliary member to co'operate in thecushioning action of said springs.

5. The combination with a vehicle having springs intermediate thevehicle body and axle and at opposite sides of said body, of a singleauxiliary cushioning member, contact members embracing opposite sides ofsaid auxiliary member, and connections between said contact members andboth of said springs whereby said auxiliary member is caused tocooperate therewith for all vibrations of either spring,

16. The combination with :a vehicle having springs intermediate :thevehicle body and axle andat opposite sides of said body, of :acushioning member, and a lever connected to each of said springs,each

lever being provided with contact members embracing opposite sides ofsaid auxiliary cushioning member.

7. In a shock-absorbing device, the combination of a yielding cushioningmeans, an auxiliary cushioning member, and a lever connected With saidcushioning means and provided with contact members arranged to grip oneor the other of the opposite sides of said auxiliary member in responseto all vi-.

bra-tions of the cushioning means.

8. In a shock-absorbing device, the combi nation of a cushioning spring,an auxiliary cushioning member, a let er connected With said spring andprovided With contact members arranged to grip one or the other of theopposite sides of said auxiliary member in response to all vibrations ofsaid spring, and means permitting variation of the leverage action ofsaid lever.

9. In a shock-absorber, the combination of a yielding cushioning means,a Wheel rota tably mounted and provided With a cushioning periphery, anda lever fulcrumed about an axis parallel with the axis of said Wheel,said lever being provided With a connection With said cushioning meansand With contact members for gripping opposite sides of the peripherv ofsaid Wheel in response to the movements of said cushioning means.

10. In a shock-absorbing device, the combination with a vehicle havingsprings in termediate the vehicle body and axle thereof and at oppositesides of said body, of a pair of transverse supporting frame membersspaced apart and connecting said springs, a

Wheel provided With a cushioning periphery and mounted rotatably overthe mid-portions of said frame members With its aXis at right-anglesthereto, a pair of levers pivoted between said frame members at oppositesides of said Wheel and provided With contact members for grippingopposite sides of the periphery thereof, and pivotal connections betweenthe outer ends of said levers and the vehicle frame.

11. The combination With a vehicle having a spring intermediate thevehicle body and the axle, of a curved auxiliary cushioning member,curved shoes adapted to embrace said auxiliary member at opposite pointsthereon, and a lever carrying said shoes and operative to cause thelatter to exert pressure on the auxiliary member in re sponse to allrelative movements between said body and axle.

12. In a shock-absorbing device, the combination of a cushioning means,a pair of supporting frame members spaced apart and connected to saidcushioning means, an auxiliary cushioning member carried by said framemembers, and a lever pivoted between said frame members and providedWith shoes for engaging said auxiliary member, said lever and framemembers being provided With bolt-openings adapted to register to permitlocking of said lever against pivotal movement.

7 JOHN B. ODONNELL. lVitnesses:

CONGER B. SMITH, CHAS. WV. GERARD.

Copies of this patent mav be obtained f r five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G.

